Gestalt Haus of Fairfax is a cafe/bar longtime overdue in Fairfax (28 Bolinas, Fairfax CA); a town at the heart of some amazing mountain biking and road cycling. Gestalt is themed to celebrate the cycling community, serving a great post-ride meal of hot German Sausages, and quality Californian and European brews. Dirty or sweaty, it doesn't matter, all are welcome. There are hooks on the wall for hanging your bikes, old bike memorabilia (e.g. Gorgeous SyCip with bar levels as break shifters), and picnic benches for seating that resemble an indoor beer garden. All ages are welcome, so whether it's a family ride or a night ride with the bro's, check them out at their website or on Facebook.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Keith DeFiebre scanned through all results posted and came up with a list of NorCal riders who made the "Podium" at the USA MTB National Championships this past weekend in Colorado, held at the SolVista Bike Park on Granby Ranch. Looks like 46 times a Northern California MTB racer was called up to the podium at the high altitude USA National Championships. Colorado might have dominated the results pages, but NorCal made a giant impression on the racing and the riders listed below all deserve a huge round of applause! Congratulations!

Sunday, July 18, 2010

DeFiebre: Congratulations Mark on victory #8 at the Downieville DH race. This victory must have been very special?

Weir: Thanks Keith. Each year the competition seems to get better and the race itself is more prestigious then ever before. After two years of watching other riders claim high honors it is now great to be back on top. The best riders in the USA come to Downieville each year, like my team mate Jason Moeschler(WTB), Nathan Riddle(SRAM), Adam Craig(Giant-Rabobank), and Ross Schnell(Trek). It is survival of the fastest and most fit out there and I was determined to prove I am the champ!

DeFiebre: Tell me about your winning set up, what did you run on race day?

Weir: First I want to thank all my key sponsors- WTB, Shimano, Santa Cruz Bicycles, & Fox Racing Shox. For race day I went with my Santa Cruz Nomad- equiped with a Coil Shock, and on the front I ran Fox Racing's awesome 36 Float front fork. I had Shimano XTR for my controls, a 10 speed rear cog 11-36 and a 40 tooth chain ring on the front. The 40 tooth chain ring was a little stiff on the uphill sections, but I knew it was key to fight through the pain and push a big gear on the climb. I ran the WTB Stryker XC Wheels mounted with the heavy version of the Wolverine 2.2 All Mountain TCS tires and a WTB Valcon Carbon saddle. I wanted to run the 900 gram dual compound tires that were more heavy, but also more resistant to flats. I am super lucky that all of my sponsors make the best stuff on the market, and I get to race the very best equipment available.

DeFiebre: You started off 2010 with a few victories at the CCCX DH races in Monterey, then you ripped off wins at the Spring Thaw event and Ashland's 12 Mile Super D race. You were on a winning streak heading into Downieville, did this give you a touch more confidence before the main event?

Weir: In the past, when I am going good, I have posted some serious win streaks from event to event. Of course this gives me confidence and shows me my training is right, my diet is right, and my power is in order. I never get caught out thinking I can just show up and win. You know better then anyone Keith, to win races there is no secret formula. You have to work dam hard to succeed, train incredibly hard to be your best, then still come up with more desire and more focus to go fast when your on course. At the top level we all have talent. It is things like family support, mental strength, and inner peace that can make the difference between being first place or being bitter your not first place at the end of the day.

DeFiebre: After 8 victories in the Downieville DH race, you will forever be linked to this event. You must have mad respect for the trail systems there and how far MTB racing and riding has progressed over the years in Downieville.

Weir: Trail stewardship is the key to Downieville's successful future. I respect those trails more then I can say. Yuba Expeditions and the people of Downieville have a great thing going and I will always be a advocate of the trail systems and the super riding Downieville offers. The Downieville Classic is now a huge event. It is key for everyone to enjoy the trials properly and to show that MTB riding is positive for the community. When I race there, I am having fun on every single switchback, not looking to cut corners or make some new race day portion of trail for a faster line. If everyone respects the trails then the future of MTB riding in Downieville will be strong, and the racing will be fare.

DeFiebre: It must have been great to have your son Gus up on the podium with you! You really looked like a proud dad?

Weir: Gus will be faster then me on a bike! All he thinks about is riding, he really is amazing. I can not do what I do without the support of my wife, my family, and my friends. Being able to bring Gus up on the top step of the podium with me brings joy to my heart!﻿

Friday, July 16, 2010

Thanks for your support of our races. The TBF Friday Night MTB Series is back in July with three Friday Nights in a row on July 16th, 23rd, and 30th at Granite Bay, Folsom Lake. The roughly 7 mile loop course will travel the favorite trails around Folsom Lake, along with some high water adjustment trails and a road-start to accommodate all of the water still in Folsom Lake. The three-race Series awards Custom Apparel for the Champion of each age group/division, and the July Series will have a three-lap course of 21 miles for all Single Speed riders as well as Expert division riders. Pre-race cost is $20 with the race-day price being $5 more at the event. Included is a fun cross country mountain bike course with extremely well-marked courses, posted times on the TBF Racing website after the event, and post-race refreshments and recovery drinks to finish the fun. More information is available at www.tbfracing.com

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

USA Cycling is pleased to announce that Bend, Ore. will host the 2011 and 2012 Marathon Mountain Bike National Championships.

The annual event, which crowns 24 national champions in marathon mountain biking, has been held in conjunction with the Firecracker 50 in Breckenridge, Colo. for the past four years. Its move to Bend for 2011 and 2012 will mark the seventh and eighth USA Cycling National Championship events held in the cycling-friendly city in a four-year period.

With breathtaking beauty and a festival-like atmosphere as the backdrop, the 2011 and 2012 USA Cycling Marathon Mountain Bike National Championships will start and end in Bend’s historic Old Mill District. The race course will provide a combination of technical sections and miles of highly acclaimed single track. Competitors will gradually climb for 25+ miles toward Mt. Bachelor before looping around and returning to town on a fast and fun descent.

The Pro Men’s (XC) race was a runaway victory for Decker (Giant Factory Racing) who led the field by a whopping five minutes at the top of the first race-separating climb. Decker held on to the margin and finished in a new course record of 1:50:50.

The story was similar in the Pro Women All-Mountain (XC) action as Kelli Emmett (Giant Factory Racing) got off to a fast start on the grueling climb and topped out several minutes ahead of last year’s champ, Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team). Emmett held on to the lead and finished in 2:08:56. Nash rolled in second at 2:11:42 while Lizzy English (Giant) rounded out the podium with a time of 2:31:46.

The 15th annual Downieville Classic All-Mountain World Championships wrapped up the weekend of racing with the downhill stage two on Sunday. Eight-time Downieville Downhill King Mark Weir (WTB) and Two-time Downhill Queen Katerine Nash (Luna) both added a jewel to their crowns taking the stage wins.

Wednesday, July 07, 2010

As reported earlier this summer, Squaw Valley is re-opening their MTB park this summer:

Squaw Valley’s renowned mountain bike park will reopen on July 16, 2010 for the first time in almost a decade. Lake Tahoe’s legendary mountain bike park is back in action, with over fifteen miles of dedicated downhill single track and mountaintop cross-country trails.

Formerly the site of the Mountain Bike World Cup, Fat Tire Festivals and Downhill Mania events, Squaw Valley’s bike park has been completely rebuilt to increase the flow of the trails and incorporate more freeride elements using the mountain’s natural terrain.

Squaw Valley is also opening three intermediate cross-country trails on top of the mountain. Bikers can enjoy scenic loops through fields of wildflowers with views overlooking Lake Tahoe and the Sierra peaks.

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

Following on the popular Spring/Summer race series, Bicycling Events / Prairie City Race Series has announced their Fall Flash series:

This Series came into being in 2003 because YOU all asked for it! This Series is un-sponsored and supported entirely by your participation! It is a "compact" version of our regular season...the "FLASH" courses are a little shorter, flatter and faster than our Spring season courses because of the limited sunlight hours... other than that, same great fun! These races are great for the first time racer or the Expert looking more training.

Online registration will be open Thursday through Monday during the Series. Registering online instead of waiting to register on race day will save you $10.

Monday, July 05, 2010

After seven races, starting in February and finishing at the end of June, the 2010 CCCX XC Series Champions were awarded last weekend in Monterey. Over 525 different riders participated in the 2010 version of CCCX XC, demonstrating a healthy race scene in and around the Central Coast of NorCal. Twenty-seven division champions were crowned in Monterey and here is a list of the best & most consistent CCCX XC racers for 2010 - Congratulations all CCCX XC Division Champions!

Thursday, July 01, 2010

Aaron Bradford (Specialized/OnsiteUltraSound) and Michelle Monroe (SB Racing/Buycell.com) were the top male and female finishers at the always competitive CCCX XC Series final event this past Sunday in Monterey. The National Super D Champion Bradford shared the podium with Junior sensation Bryan Duke(VOS Racing), who is just a sophomore in High School, and past USA National Cross Country Champion Don Myrah (Buy-Cell/Ibis). The CCCX Series has always been a developmental race program which provides NorCal racers a chance to practice their craft. The competition is always at an extremely high level and many NorCal riders have had their start at CCCX races. Monterey County resident Bryan Duke is a rider who started out racing CCCX events, then the Nor-Cal High School league, and now has developed into quite the Junior sensation who can challenge some of the best riders in all of America. Michelle Monroe was joined on the podium of the Pro/Expert Women's division by Beverly Chaney (Roaring Mouse) & Jamie Stamps (Another Bike Shop).

Here is a list of all the race day winners at CCCX XC #7- The Series Final: